Silver
Star Lodge #5
Gold Hill, Storey County
Nevada
With the great Masonic interest in Silver City and Virginia City, the brethren at Gold Hill became interested in forming a Lodge of their own. Fifteen brethren petitioned the Grand Lodge of California to establish a Lodge at Gold Hill. On October 13th, 1864 a Charter was granted to Silver Star Lodge 165 with Charles Olney, Worshipful Master, L. W. Lee, Senior Warden and Duane Bliss, Junior Warden.
In a mad rush to make their fortune, many members of the craft flocked to the area and joined the local brethren in Masonic fellowship. By the end of 1869 Silver Star #5 boasted 123 members and by 1875, 188 members.
The Comstock Lode and surrounding mining districts begin to decline around 1880, and so did the Masonic membership. Brethren returned to whence they came or moved on to other mining districts in search of the elusive gold. Although many of those departing remained loyal to their "home" lodges, many went on to support lodges in the area to which they moved.
In 1919, with membership declining to 17, and no new material presenting itself for several years, Silver Star Lodge #5 consolidated with Escurial #7 at Virginia City and "quietly wrapped its drapery of its Masonic accomplishments around it and laid down to pleasant dreams".
A controversy did arise, though, as to the disposal of its belongings. Grand Master Walter E. Pratt ruled in 1919 that the assets of Silver Star Lodge belonged to Escurial #7 as Silver Star Lodge consolidated and did not forfeit their charter. The Jurisprudence committee later affirmed this action.